Stand for collapsible tubes



24, 1936. A. STAEHELI 2,034,777

STAND FOR COLLAPSIBLE TUBES Filed Aug. 8, 1934 I INVENTOR: eflfinse Maire/1' ATTORNEYS.

Patented Mar. 24, 1936 PATENT @FE'HQE STAND FOR COLLAPSIBLE TUBES Alfonse Staeheli, NewYork, N. Y.

Application August 8, 1934, Serial No. 738,894 8 Claims. (01. 22'1 s0) This invention relates to stands for collapsible tubes, such as are employed for containing dentifrices, cosmetics, shaving cream, and the like.

The present application is a continuation in part of my application Serial No. 696,123, filed November 1, 1933, for stands for collapsible tubes.

One feature of the invention consists in the provision of a stand having a supporting base and an arcuate shell mounted thereon, which shell is so constructed that, throughout its length it is of substantially reverse contour to that portion of the tube which is operatively in contact therewith, in order that the tube may fit snugly in the shell and that thorough expulsion of the tube contents may be assured.

Another feature consists in the provision of a linear lip projecting upwardly from the base and cooperative with the shell to embrace the bottom closure seam of the tube substantially throughout the length of said seam, in order that the lower end of the tube may be securely retained in position in the stand.

A further feature consists in the provision at the upper end of the shell of a co-operative inwardly-projecting lip, provided with an arcuate recess to cradle the tube cap or neck, and to engage a portion of the end of the tube body in order to restrain the tube against longitudinal thrust resulting from applying pressure thereto for the purpose of expellin portions of its contents.

A still further feature consists in the provision, near the upper end of the shell, of an arcuate clasp, one end of which is hinged to the shell near one edge thereof, and the other end of which is constructed and arranged to snap into engagement with an aperture formed in the opposite wall of the shell and near the edge thereof, in order that the tube may be securely locked in the stand.

Other features and advantages of the invention will hereinafter appear.

The invention will best be understood by reference to the accompanying drawing, wherein is illustrated the present preferred embodiment thereof, and wherein Fig. 1 is a side elevation showing a stand embodying the invention and with a filled collapsible tube supported therein.

Fig. 2 is a front view of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of Fig. 1, with the tube removed from the stand.

Like reference characters indicate like parts throughout the drawing.

Referring to the drawing: Integral with a base I, designated generally by the reference numeral I, is an arcuate shell 2, the front of which shell is open to permit of the insertion of a collapsible tube 3 and to allow compression thereof in order to expel portions of its contents. An aperture formed in the front of the base and defined by the feet 4-@ facilitates pressure by the thumb or finger in order to compress the tube.

As appears from Fig. 2, the shell flares near the base, the purpose of this flaring being that this portion of the shell shall conform to the contour of the lower portion of the filled tube which has been flattened out in the process of forming therein the bottom closure seam.

Projecting upwardly from base I is a linear lip 5, which, in co-operation with the bottom portion of the shell 2, embraces the closure seam of the tube substantially throughout the length of said seam. Co-operating with linear lip 5 to assist in retaining the tube within the stand is an upper lip 6, projecting inwardly from the upper portion of the shell wall. This upper lip is provided with an arcuate recess 7 which serves to cradle the cap 8 of the tube, or the neck of the tube. The lower surface of the lip 6 also serves to engage the upper end of the tube body, in order to restrain it against longitudinal thrust resulting from compression of the tube for the purpose of expelling portions of its contents.

One end of an arcuate clasp 9 is hinged in an aperture Ill, formed in one side of shell 2 and near the top of said shell; and the other end of said clasp is constructed and arranged to snap into engagement with an aperture ll, formed in the opposite side of the shellthereby securely locking the tube in the stand.

If desired, the stand may be ornamented by affixing thereto or incorporating therewith a decorative member, such as l2.

The base I, the shell 2, the retaining lips 5 and 6, and the decorative member l2, may be formed from sheet metal or from die-cast metal, or they may be moulded from other suitable material, such as synthetic resin.

Thorough expulsion of the contents of the tube is facilitated by the novel construction of the shell, whereby its contour, throughout its length, conforms to that of the portion of the filled tube which contacts therewith. Moreover, this contour of the shell conforms substantially to the contour of the thumb or finger by which pressure is applied to the tube. Thus, as the tube is progressively collapsed, the opposite sides of its wall are forced into the depression in the shell, and are brought into such close contact with each other as to assure expulsion of practically all the contents therebetween.

It will be understood that the present preferred embodiment of the invention shown in the drawing and described in the specification is merely illustrative; and that, without departing from its principle, the invention may be embodied in other forms and constructions.

I claim:

1. A stand for collapsible tubes comprising shell provided with a concave inner surface substantially conforming throughout its length to a portion of the contour of a filled tube which it is to receive, a base on which said shell is mounted, a linear retaining lip extending upwardly from said base and parallel to the bottom closure seam of the tube and adapted to cooperate with said shell at the base for holding snugly therebetween said bottom closure seam throughout the length of said seam, and releasable means to confine laterally and hold the delivery end of the tube against the upper end of the shell, leaving the tube exposed throughout its forwardly presented face for manual collapsing pressure applied directly thereto exclusively against the face thereof remote from the shell.

2. A stand for collapsible tubes comprising a base provided with feet, a shell mounted on said base and having an inner surface substantially conforming throughout its length to the contour of that portion of a tube adjacent thereto, a linear retaining lip integral with said base and adapted to cooperate therewith for embracing therebetween the folded bottom closure seam of the tube substantially throughout the length of said seam, and means for removably engaging and confining positively the upper, delivery end of the tube, whereby the tube is held at each end from bodily displacement in any direction, and is exposed for manually applied collapsing pressure throughout its forwardly presented face, being supported against said collapsing pressure throughout its rear wall, the tube being freely removable laterally from said shell when said confining means is released.

' 3. A stand for collapsible tubes comprising a base, a shell mounted on said base and having a concave inner surface of contour the reverse of that of the portion of the tube adjacent thereto, a lip for embracing the folded bottom closure seam of the tube substantially throughout the length of said seam, a lip for engaging the upper end of the tube, and a clasp hinged in the Wall of the shell for embracing the tube to lock it in position.

4. A holder for a collapsible tube comprising a base, a shell arcuate in cross-section mounted on said base, and an upwardly extending linear lip adjacent the lower end of said shell and cooperating therewith for embracing snugly therebetween the bottom closure seam of the tube substantially throughout the length of said seam, said base having spaced feet extending forward beyond said lip, whereby said base is adapted to permit manual collapsing pressure to be applied progressively to the seam end of said tube by the insertion of one of the users digits between said feet and over said lip.

5. A stand for collapsible tubes comprising a shell arcuate in cross-section and substantially conforming throughout its length to a portion of the contour of a filled tube inserted therein, a supporting base for said shell, a lip projecting upwardly from said base and extending substantially throughout the length of the bottom closure seam of the tube for retaining the bottom of the tube, a second lipprojecting inwardly from the top of the shell and having an opening substantially concentric with the upper portion of the shell for engaging the upper surface of the body of the tube and the neck portion thereof, and an arcuate clasp engaging the sides of the shell for locking the tube in position.

6. A holder for a collapsible tube, comprising a base, an arcuate shell mounted on said base and having edges diverging toward the base, a linear lip for embracing the bottom closure seam of the tube substantially throughout the length of said seam, an annular lip integral with the shell for engaging the upper surface of the body of the tube, and a clasp hinged to the shell and engaging an aperture therein for locking the tube in position in the holder.

7. A holder for a collapsible tube, comprising a base, an arcuate shell integral with said base and of reverse contour to the filled tube, a lip projecting upwardly from said base for embracing the bottom closure seam of the tube substantially throughout the length of said seam, a lip for embracing an upper surface of the body of the tube, and a spring clasp coacting with the shell to completely embrace the tube.

8. A holder for collapsible tubes comprising a substantially semi-cylindrical shell, said shell being tapered upward slightly for a substantial distance from its lower end, a foot upon which said shell is supported in an upwardly inclined position, said shell being formed with a lower part inclined more abruptly toward said foot, and said last-named part being provided with an upwardly extending lip for receiving behind it the lower closure member of the collapsible tube, an arcuate retaining lip adjacent the upper end of said shell and projecting inwardly therefrom and retaining the upper end of the collapsible tube within said shell, said upper end of the shell being slotted to receive a tensile member for holding the upper end of the tube against the back of the shell, the tube being freely insertable and removable laterally from said arcuate lip in the absence of said tensile member.

ALFONSE STAEHELI. 

